What things look like from here, a tour of common household…

I thought you’d enjoy a tour of things around our house that struck me as different then I was used to in my passport country. So here is a tour of things inside our North African home…

Some of these are unique to our home, and some are indicative of the country we live in. As with any country you’ll find differences depending on year the place was built, socioeconomic status, taste and landlord upkeep.

This has been true of every country we've lived in thus far - except for our passport country — This has been true of every country we’ve lived in thus far – except for our passport country

We are just high enough to wish we had an elevator at 5 floors up and just low enough to hear all the traffic noises... — We are just high enough to wish we had an elevator at 5 floors up and just low enough to hear all the traffic noises…

A mini-bar in country where drinking is publicly tabooed and privately indulged in - still it strikes me as a bit odd. — A mini-bar in country where drinking is publicly tabooed and privately indulged in – still it strikes me as a bit odd.

It seems 1 in four apartment buildings near us are either being built, or under remodel.

I am loving glass over the kitchen table. So much easier then washing tableclothes.

This means we'll have about a block of sidewalk, and then have to walk into the street because cars are using it double park. As best as I can tell if your car fits it is fair game...just don't put on your emergency brake so people can roll it out of the way. — This means we’ll have about a block of sidewalk, and then have to walk into the street because cars are using it double park. As best as I can tell if your car fits it is fair game…just don’t put on your emergency brake so people can roll it out of the way.

Perfect height for toddlers...a rather frustrating occurrence... — Perfect height for toddlers…a rather frustrating occurrence…

Recommend to hang at night when dust is at times better so you don't have to re-wash. — Recommend to hang at night when dust is at times better so you don’t have to re-wash.

I love that I don't have to heat water until I need to. An electricity saver for sure..but no long luxurious showers or they'll be cold! — I love that I don’t have to heat water until I need to. An electricity saver for sure..but no long luxurious showers or they’ll be cold!

In each country the electrical payment system has been different. This is the most like our passport country.

It took me 15-20 minutes to figure out how to turn it on and use it... — It took me 15-20 minutes to figure out how to turn it on and use it…

This keeps the house a bit cooler...but blows in dust so we have to evaluate it in a cost-benefit-analysis sense. — This keeps the house a bit cooler…but blows in dust so we have to evaluate it in a cost-benefit-analysis sense.

I haven't had a dryer for a year and a half and really don't miss it. — I haven’t had a dryer for a year and a half and really don’t miss it.

We know own four different converters to run electronics in various places

I am thinking this is for heat and dust.

The sheer pinkness of this room is a bit much for me...but we save on toilet paper...these bidets are in most public restrooms as well. — The sheer pinkness of this room is a bit much for me…but we save on toilet paper…these bidets are in most public restrooms as well.

Not much to say about this other then ugh...and the dust storm season has to officially arrive. — Not much to say about this other then ugh…and the dust storm season has to officially arrive.

Each room has these wardrobes in them and lots of storage. So nice!

Sigh...sometimes there is one per bulb... — Sigh…sometimes there is one per bulb…

intersting house items-15 — I have yet to lock more then one…

intersting house items-14 — I am envisioning turning on the fan by hitting one of the wrong light switches and being showered in dust

intersting house items-2-3 — In South Sudan we were putting chemicals in – in Nairobi we never knew if chemical were in or out and here we have too many…

intersting house items-16 — Script is so beautiful

Well that is it a tour of some common things in our house. Any surprises for you?

12 thoughts on “What things look like from here, a tour of common household encounters here.”

Melodie Kieswether
10 March, 2014 at 4:19 pm

I can tell you why the buildings are always under construction: because taxes go up for buildings that are complete. So they often leave them unfinished, with the rebar sticking up out of the top, etc.
D Parnakian
10 March, 2014 at 6:16 pm

Now, that was fun! Thanks for sharing.
Bethany Sorensen Fader
10 March, 2014 at 7:35 pm

That really was a fun tour. I love the pink bathroom.
Beverly
11 March, 2014 at 12:12 am

great tour – reminds me of our 3 years over there – except we didn’t have all the locks – no worry of crime and curtain rods over the doors – otherwise you could have been taking pictures of the Gulf region in the Middle East – makes me homesick! I could never get pictures of the stores – because the people couldn’t be photographed and there were so many. Would love to see those also, Do they have plastic covering the door openings to walk in? Bev Miller
Marcy Phillips Emmelkamp
11 March, 2014 at 1:22 am

Very interesting – thanks for sharing!
Cam Crites Pickens
11 March, 2014 at 1:46 am

Thanks for the tour Abuk. I love being able to visualize when I am praying for someone. This really helps me. I am so happy to be connected to you through your posts. Thank you for being so intentional. I know it can’t be an easy task. Love,Cam
Elizabeth Stutzman
11 March, 2014 at 4:16 am

I liked the pics. Some things are similar to Thailand (multiple light switches, double parking, funky chip flavors) and some are different.
Terri Halverson
12 March, 2014 at 1:10 pm

What do you think Aunt Terri focused on. A balcony and five flights up. Are the little darllings tethered out there?
Cheri Loden
16 March, 2014 at 3:10 pm

I did enjoy that, very fun and interesting to see all the differences. Thanks!
Diane Parker
16 March, 2014 at 4:56 pm

Just loved up to date news on the family. I attend Alderwood Community church and keep watching your emails, etc. for current news and prayer requests. Love to the whole family.
Darlys
26 April, 2014 at 9:12 am

It’s amazing how many things are the same “different” here. Fun flavored chips (cucumber is the most common), parking on the sidewalks )and everywhere else a car fits), unfitted sheets, similar keys and doorknobs, small water heaters (though ours is relatively big), and our dust isn’t nearly as bad as yours but we are always amazed at how much there is! Oh, and high apartments. Many are only 6 floors because after that they have to have an elevator, but our friends’ are 18 and 28 floors I think.
Liz
13 May, 2014 at 6:31 pm

Love these photos! Amazing how many little differences 🙂

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